Your baby's progress - Week 24

Now weighing around half a kilo and around 30cm from head to toe, baby is receiving oxygen through the placenta and her lungs are maturing to start producing a substance called surfactant, which keep the lung sacs from collapsing in on each other. In fact, baby is now looking and behaving much the same way now as she will when she is born. Her well-developed skeletal system is making bone marrow and she’s capable of producing her own white blood cells to fight off infections.

Some research has shown that from this age, the foetus can actually think – but who really knows? They probably can’t think much more than: “Hmmm, this umbilical cord looks nice”. Your womb tenant will be taking up more space in your belly and your bump will be bursting further to the front. Baby’s pattern of sleeping and waking will start to establish itself, and you may notice her moving and squiggling around particularly when you are trying to sleep.

Baby’s face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. She’s looking amazingly like the gorgeous little human you will meet very soon, and no doubt want to cover in kisses and cuddles. Her lips are red and she makes sucking actions, too.

Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby's development and progress.